Vehicle door mirror assembly

Abstract

A foldable exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a housing having a glass assembly secured thereto. A support arm mounts the housing an associated vehicle side door. The support arm has a closed end portion at least partially received within an aperture in an underside of the housing. A pivot shaft is mounted to the closed end portion of the support arm. The housing is foldable about the pivot shaft between a drive or use position and a folded or park position. The closed end portion of the support arm includes an opening, and a wiring harness for connection to associated electronics housed in the housing is received through the opening and routed beneath the pivot shaft into the housing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A foldable exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 a housing having an associated glass assembly secured thereto; 
 a support arm for mounting the housing to an associated vehicle side door, the support arm having a closed end portion at least partially received within an aperture in an underside of the housing; 
 a pivot shaft mounted to the closed end portion of the support arm, the housing is foldable about the pivot shaft between a drive or use position and a folded or park position, 
 wherein the closed end portion of the support arm includes an opening, and a wiring harness for connection to associated electronics housed in the housing is received through the opening and routed beneath the pivot shaft into the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot shaft includes a base portion secured to an upper wall of the closed end portion, and a shaft portion extending outwardly from the base portion, a lower end portion of the shaft portion closed by the base portion to prevent wind noise through the shaft portion. 
     
     
       3. The mirror assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a bracket is supported within the housing for mounting a power fold actuator, a lower part of the bracket including a routing feature for the wiring harness that is aligned with the closed end portion. 
     
     
       4. The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a grommet for the wiring harness is received in the opening in the closed end portion of the support arm, the grommet is configured to seal the opening to prevent dirt and water intrusion through the opening and into the housing. 
     
     
       5. The mirror assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the opening in the closed end portion of the support arm is in the form of a channel formed in both a sidewall and an upper wall of the closed end portion, the grommet slidingly received in the channel and secured to the closed end portion by being at least partially compressed within the opening by the pivot shaft. 
     
     
       6. The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a seal is mounted to the housing and surrounds the closed end portion of the support arm, the seal provided beneath the opening in the closed end portion. 
     
     
       7. The mirror assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the support arm includes an outer base member and an inner base member received in the outer base member, the inner base member has the closed end portion, the seal sealingly engaging the outer base member. 
     
     
       8. The mirror assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the seal includes a base affixed to an inner surface of the housing and a lip extending outwardly from the base, the lip is in contact with the outer base member as the housing is moved relative to the support arm. 
     
     
       9. The mirror assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a distal end portion of the outer base member is wedge shaped to prevent the lip of the seal from folding downward as the housing is moved relative to the support arm. 
     
     
       10. The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a fastener secures the pivot shaft to the closed end portion of the support arm, and a door is removably connected to the support arm to provide access for installation or removal of the fastener. 
     
     
       11. The mirror assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support arm includes an outer base member, the closed end portion is cylindrical shaped and is formed as part of an inner base member received in the outer base member, a grommet for the wiring harness is secured in the opening of the closed end portion. 
     
     
       12. A foldable exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 a housing having an associated glass assembly secured thereto; 
 a support arm for mounting the housing to an associated vehicle side door, the support arm includes an outer base member and an inner base member received in the outer base member, the inner base member has a closed end portion at least partially received within the housing, a sidewall of the closed end portion includes an opening for receiving a grommet; 
 a pivot shaft mounted to the closed end portion of the support arm; 
 a wiring harness routed through the grommet and beneath the pivot shaft for connection to associated electronics housed in the housing; and 
 a seal mounted to the housing sealingly engaging the outer base member as the housing is folded about the pivot shaft between a drive or use position and a folded or park position. 
 
     
     
       13. The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the pivot shaft includes a base portion secured to an upper wall of the closed end portion, and a shaft portion extending outwardly from the base portion, a lower end portion of the shaft portion is closed by the base portion to prevent wind noise through the shaft portion. 
     
     
       14. The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a washer tube for connection to an associated camera washer nozzle mounted to the housing is routed with the wiring harness through the grommet. 
     
     
       15. The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the opening in the closed end portion is in the form of a channel formed in both the sidewall and an upper wall of the closed end portion of the support arm, the grommet secured in the opening by connection of the pivot shaft to the closed end portion. 
     
     
       16. The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a distal end portion of the outer base member is wedge shaped to prevent a lip of the seal from folding downward as the housing is moved relative to the support arm. 
     
     
       17. The mirror assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a fastener secures the pivot shaft to the closed end portion of the inner base member, and the outer base member includes a removable door to provide access for installation or removal of the fastener. 
     
     
       18. A foldable exterior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 a housing having an associated glass assembly secured thereto; 
 a support arm for mounting the housing to an associated vehicle side door, the support arm includes a cylindrical shaped closed end portion at least partially received within the housing, a sidewall of the closed end portion includes an opening for routing of a wiring harness for connection to associated electronics housed in the housing; 
 a pivot shaft for the housing is mounted to the closed end portion of the support arm, the pivot shaft includes a base portion secured to an upper wall of the closed end portion and a cylindrical shaped shaft portion extending outwardly from the base portion; 
 wherein a fastener secures the base portion of the pivot shaft to the closed end portion of the support arm, and the support arm includes a removable door to provide access for installation or removal of the fastener. 
 
     
     
       19. The mirror assembly of  claim 18 , wherein a seal is mounted to the housing sealingly engaging the support arm, and an outer surface of the support arm is wedge shaped to prevent a lip of the seal from folding downward as the housing is moved relative to the support arm. 
     
     
       20. The mirror assembly of  claim 18 , wherein a grommet for the wiring harness is received in the opening in the closed end portion of the support arm, the grommet is at least partially compressed within the opening by the pivot shaft.